Death of Hank Williams, Sr.: 60 years later

Tuesday marked the 60 year anniversary of the death of music legend Hank Williams, Sr., who made his last known stop alive in Knoxville.

This story is still a popular part of downtown Knoxville's history and folklore.

On New Year's Eve in 1952, Hank Williams collapsed at the former Andrew Johnson Hotel in downtown Knoxville, known now as the Andrew Johnson Building, on his way to a concert in Charleston, W.Va.

After seeing a doctor, Williams continued his journey with a hired driver. It's still a mystery exactly what happened the night of his death. It is known, however, that when the driver stopped at a gas station in West Virginia early New Year's morning, the 29 year-old country singer was dead.

Most people believe Williams died from a toxic combination of alcohol and drugs. Some legends claim Williams died at the Knoxville hotel, but others believe he made it at least to Bristol, Va. alive, and died at some point during the drive.